The sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway outside the library. A sharp knock rattled the thick wood doors, followed by a commanding male voice.
Arthur Sterling: Harrison! Why are the library doors locked? The guests are waiting for the corporate announcement!
Harrison looked at Elena, then down at the papers in his hands. He swallowed hard before walking over to unlock the door.
Harrison: Come in, Father. You need to see this right now.
Arthur Sterling, a sharp-eyed man in his early sixties wearing a tailored Italian tuxedo, stepped into the room. His stern expression shifted instantly to annoyance as he saw Elena standing near the desk.
Arthur: Why is the staff in here? Victoria, why aren't you out on the floor?
Victoria: Arthur... this woman claims she is Margaret’s daughter.
Arthur froze in his tracks. The color drained from his face as his gaze slowly shifted down to Elena’s hand, where the heavy gold signet ring glimmered under the overhead chandelier.
Arthur: Where did you get that ring?
Elena: Hello, Uncle Arthur. It has been a long time since you saw me at my mother’s funeral.
Arthur: This is ridiculous. Security should have removed you from the premises months ago!
Harrison: Father, she has the 1998 trust agreement. The original one with the unanimous consent clause.
Arthur: That document is completely irrelevant! Margaret signed away her legal rights during the corporate restructuring!
Elena: She signed a document while under sedation in an ICU unit. My lawyer already submitted the hospital records from that day to the state judge.
Arthur: You think you can come into my home, wear a uniform, and try to blackmail me?
Elena: It's not blackmail when it's the law, Arthur. You stole my mother's life insurance payout, you erased her shares, and you built this luxury lifestyle on her rightful property.
Victoria looked at Arthur, her voice rising in pitched panic as the grand party outside continued unaware.
Victoria: Arthur! Tell me she doesn't own part of this house! My family invested three million dollars into this event and our joint venture!
Arthur: Keep your voice down, Victoria! The board members are right outside!
Elena: Let them hear. In about ten minutes, two process servers are going to walk through those front doors and deliver the formal freeze on all Sterling account assets.
Arthur: You wouldn't dare. It will destroy the stock price by tomorrow morning!
Elena: My mother died in a rented room without enough money to pay for her insulin. Do you really think I care about your stock price?
Harrison took a step back from his father, looking at the man he had idolized his entire life with newfound disgust.
Harrison: You lied to me, Father. You told me Aunt Margaret walked away because she hated the family business.
Arthur: I did what was necessary to keep this estate from being broken up into pieces!
Harrison: You committed fraud! You risked the entire family legacy for your own ego!
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